Apparatus for igniting and operating gaseous discharge devices



April 21-, 1959 A. FEINBERG 8 APPARATUS FOR IGNITING AND OPERATING GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICES Original Filed June 15, 1950' I I 7 mm% 30 To LINE,

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2,883,581 .Patented Ap 1959 APPARATUS FOR IGNITING .AND OPERATING GASEOUS DISCHARGE DEVICES Albert E. Feinberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Advance Transformer Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 26, 1953,'Serial No. 339,103

11 Claims. (Cl. 315-138) This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application'Serial No. 168,219, filed June 15, 1950,'now Patent No. 2,791,726 and entitled Apparatus'for Starting and Operating Gaseous. Discharge Devices.

This invention relates generally to transformers of the type known as ballasts-for the purpose. of igniting and operating gaseous discharge devices.

As well-known, gaseous discharge devices are charac terized by thefeature of so-called negative: resistance. When cold, it requires a rather'high voltageto ionize the gas within the discharge devices to initiate the discharge, and-thereafter, the sustaining voltage of the device'is relatively low. However,- due to the negative re- .sistance characteristic of the: device, its resistance becomes so low, that if permitted to operate without some impedance limiting flow of current .therethrough, the current willincrease at a rapid rateuntil. the device destroys itself.

This inventionvrelatesto an apparatus which'not'only provides the high igniting voltage through transformation of theline voltage to suitable values, butalso provides suflicient ballast for the devices after they have been ignited, through reactance developed :in the apparatus.

The principal .and most familiar of .the gaseous dis charge devices are the fluorescent lamps used for illumina tion. Such lamps are available in many different. types, also, but. of recent years, instant-start lamps have been produced which ignite at higher voltagesthan their slowstart predecessors. Problems-have been posedi'by virtue of suchhigh voltage which are capable of'solution from the stand-point of insulation, .etc.,:but in .addition,.=safety requirements have been established by various organizations including persons interested in reducing fire hazards and .danger to lives. .These requirements, almostinvariably dictate that the removalof the gaseous discharge .device'from the. circuit will open the line, wherebyithere willibepno high open circuit voltagesiexisting in:.the apparatus' with such'device removed, even though the apparatus is connected to. a live. :line. In the case of astwolamp or three-lampballast thistproblem is readily capable of; solution through the obvious use of simple: socketsof -the.type shown in US. Letters Patent No. 2,351,915, issued June.20,11944, to C. P. .Boucheretal. This :invention, however, is concerned with. an: additional problem.

The standard T-12 fluorescentlamp'with 40 watt rat- :ing. is designed tobe operated at a voltageof-about207 volts with. a current flow of about .435 ampere. The igniting voltage. of such lamps isiabout 450, althoughhigher igniting voltages are just as satisfactory if notizmore. so 'since they ignite the lamp faster and subject the .discharge terminals to less disintegrating stress. Such lamps cannot operate at greater than rated currents since 'the life is materially decreased due to injury to the discharge'terminals. In many parts of the United States, especially in places where large amounts of electrical power'are uscd'in industry, the-voltage available is obv 'tained through Y connections, and the "voltagetor lighting is 277 volts. The ordinary lines have the familiar or 220 volts A.C. with variations. The problem with which this invention principally is concerned is "the economical and feasible production of a ballast for'the ignitionand operation of gaseous discharge devices of low rating, say the 40 watt lamps hereinabove referred to, from the higher than usual voltage, say the 277 volt A.C. line hereinabove referred to, which will comply with. the safety requirements hereinabove set forth. This invention contemplates the provision of such apparatus.

The above sets forth the principal object of the invention, and in addition'other objects are to provide apparatus'of the character described which will be physically almost identical to the apparatus which is used to operate the devices from a line of the lower and usual voltage; for example 110 volts"A.C.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which there is a high voltage primary connected across the full high voltage line, but only a portion of the primary is used to provide voltage in the initiation of the ignition of one gaseous discharge device.

In connection with the immediately above object, one object ofthe invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the primary is open in its center and two leads extend therefrom to the two contacts of a line openingsocket, a gaseous discharge device having one terminal in that socket utilizing only a pa'rtof the primary for supplying ignitionand operation voltage thereto.

In my previous patent, namely 'U.S. Patent No. 2,558,293, issued June 26, 1951, to the same assignee as the assignee of this invention, I described and claimed a novel apparatus for the purpose of igniting and operating gaseous discharge devices also, and the basic circuits of the saidpatent, insofar as operation and constructionare concerned, are used in this invention. I have,"however, adapted such constructions to the uses and purposes enumerated in the objectshereinabove. Through the invention described herein, I am enabled torassemble the ballast for'thehigher voltage line upon the identicaltmagnetic structure manufactured for and used to assemble the ballast described in my said prior patent which operates on a line voltage of conventional low value. The only variations necessary are variations in the winding of the primary winding, all of the other windings and the physical characteristics being identical. 1 am therefore enabled to effect considerable savings through't'he' use 'of'standard low line voltage cores and windings available in daily production to produce the higher line voltage ballasts. 7

Other objectsand advantages will 'become'apparent'as the description proceeds in connection with Which'preferredembodiments have been described in some detail for complying with the statutes and pointing out the advances I have made in the arts and sciences.

In the drawing:

Fig. .l is a circuit diagram showing the invention as embodied in apparatus for igniting and operating a pair of gaseous discharge lamps from a line whose voltage is considerably higher than that with which thegaseous discharge lamps are designed to be used.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the formation of the entire ballast of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram similar to that of Fig.1 but utilizing slightly different connections. I i

Considering first the general circuits of the invention, and referring to Figs. 1 and 3, same are characterized by the provision of three windings, the primary P P,

the auxiliary starting secondary S and the second sec} ondary 8 Inevery case, the primary P1-'P;r is 'con= nected across the line, the secondaries are connected in reverse voltage relationship one relative to the other, and after ignition of the lamps L and L the flow of current substantially by-passes the winding S The reason for this is that S is a very high leakage reactance Winding and opposes flow of current. Note that on the core it is separated from the remainder of the transformer 11 by a shunt 12.

In my patent above referred to, a circuit somewhat like that of Fig. 1 is shown, and in that circuit, the igniting voltage is first developed in S; such that lamp L ignited first. After that there is developed a voltage in S which, when added to the voltages of S and the primary winding are sufficient to ignite the second lamp L Thus the lamp L was connected in series with the condenser C and across S while the lamp L was connected across all three windings of the transformer. Note in that case that the instantaneous open circuit voltage sense of the winding S and the primary was additive.

In Fig. l the principal difference lies in the fact that the primary of Fig. 1, namely P -P is not totally included in the circuit for igniting and operating the lamp The total winding P -P is connected across the high voltage line, which may be 277 volts A.C. in conjunction with lamps L and L having 40 watt ratings. The right half P of the winding only is used to provide igniting voltage. It is to be remembered, however, that the voltages developed in S and S will still have a relationship with the primary based upon the turn ratios considering P and P together but in operation the current in the lamps L and L will be rated value with coils S and S the same as for the lower voltage circuit providing P is chosen to have sufiicient turns to provide only rated voltage for the lamps.

The above described circuit is only possible, without scrapping the safety requirements relative to lamp removal opening lines only by opening the primary winding and bringing two leads out to a line-opening socket. Thus in Fig. l, I have shown leads 14 and 15 connected respectively to the adjacent ends of the primary parts P and P and to the contacts 16 and 17 of the socket 18. The contact 19 which closes the circuit between leads 14 and 15 when the lamp L is inserted into the socket 18 may be the external terminal of the lamp.

A socket 20 similar to socket 18 is shown at the lefthand end of lamp L and this socket serves to open the line if lamp L is removed, but its use in this position is believed obvious.

In fabricating the ballast, I prefer to form the windings and then place them on the winding leg 22 and forcing the assembly into the shell core 23. Winding of the windings S and S is done in the conventional manner, and as a matter of fact, I utilize the identical windings for the 277 volt A.C. line as in the case the apparatus is to be used on 110 volt A.C. lines. As for the primary winding, during the formation thereof, a long loop of wire is brought out in the process of winding the coil, and the two resulting ends are parted so that the primary winding has four leads extending therefrom. These are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and designated 14, 15, 24 and 25.

The transformer 11 is placed in a can 26 shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 together with the condenser C and the leads connected together and brought out as may be required. The two leads 27 and 28 of S are connected respectively to the condenser C and to the lead 25. Leads and 28 thus become a single lead 32 which makes connection to one contact of the socket 20, the other contact of which is connected by lead 33 (not shown in Fig. 2) with the second side of the line. The second secondary winding S has its two leads 29 and connected respectively to the condenser C and the lamp L The can is potted, and the leads extending from the can are thus only six in number, comprisl ing leads 14, 15, 24, 30, 32 and lead 34 which extends between condenser C and the lamp L In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified circuit which is similar in operation to one described in my patent hereinabove referred to. The voltage sense in S and P -P is additive at open circuit. The first lamp to light is L which is across P and S and is in series with condenser C. The second lamp L lights as a result of the voltage reversal, that is to say, the production of an out of phase component in S sufficient to add to the voltage of S for ignition. Here, as in Fig. 1, there is a division of the primary winding into two parts P and P the two resulting leads being connected to a line-opening socket 118. The lamp L is connected into a line-opening socket 20. The same advantages accrue here as in the other described embodiments.

As an example of the invention, attention is invited to the example described in the above referred to patent. The only modifications of the particular physical characteristics of said embodiments lie in the number of turns and wire size of the primary. For example, in a case where :a volt unit of circuit similar to that of Fig. l was to be used on 277 volts A.C., I used the same secondary S as a commercially available device and the same secondary S The former of these had 2400 turns of No. 32 wire and the latter had 1070 turns of No. 26 wire. Two 40 watt T-12 lamps were to be ignited and operated. The primary was wound of 1100 turns of No. 24 wire, and the division of turns between P and P was about 600 to 500. The rated current flowed in the lamps, and the total voltage developed across the lamps through the ofiices of S and P was about 362 volts, which is reduced by the reactance drop of C and S to operating voltages of lamps.

It is believed that this invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the specific details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for igniting and operating a gaseous discharge device from an A.C. source of relatively high voltage which comprises, a three winding auto-transformer comprising a primary having two end terminals connected across the source, a first secondary having an end terminal connected to one end terminal of the pri mary, and a second secondary having an end terminal connected to the second'end terminal of the first secondary whereby the three windings are connected end to end in the order named, the windings being mounted on an iron core with the first secondary separated from the other windings to establish very high leakage reactance therein, the secondaries being arranged in reverse voltage relationship one to the other, the primary having an electrical opening therein providing two inside terminals, a gaseous discharge device having two terminals, 'ashunting socket having a pair of contacts, each contact being connected respectively to an inside terminal of the primary, one end terminal of the gaseous discharge device being engaged in said socket and bridging said contacts to render the primary continuous, the second terminal of the said device being connected to the free terminal of the second secondary winding, a condenser, and a second gaseous discharge device connected across the first secondary winding and in series with said condenser for providing a voltage in the said first secondary in phase with the voltage in the second secondary winding but only after ignition of said first gaseous discharge device.

2. Apparatus for igniting and operating at least one gaseous discharge device from a source of A.C. voltage including a transformer-having a primary winding and additional windings, said--primary-- winding having two an te minals onnectedlacrcss.said;source and-{intransiormer withsaid additional windings,:..said primary- -winding e ng e tric lly pe betw en its terminals and providing two inside terminals, a shunting sOckethaYil g two contacts connected,v respectively :to ,the said inside terminals, a gaseous discharge device connected atone endito be energized by w ndings, including atleast one .Of, said additional windings having 2 a terminal engaging: in said; socket and bridging-.saidscontactswhereby the primary winding is continuous only when said lamp is in said socket, and whereby only a part of said primary winding is included in the windings connected across the said gaseous discharge device, said additional windings comprising a first secondary having one end terminal connected to an end terminal of the primary, a second secondary having one end terminal connected to the second end terminal of the first secondary winding, the said gaseous discharge device being connected in series with 'a condenser and to the juncture between the secondary windings, and an additional gaseous discharge de vice connected across both secondary windings together.

3. Apparatus for igniting and operating gaseous discharge devices which comprises, a source of AC. voltage, a pair of gaseous discharge devices, an elongate iron core mounting a transformer thereon and said transformer having primary, first secondary and second secondary windings along the core, with the primary winding in the center of the core and the secondary windings arranged on opposite sides thereof, a shunt between the primary and first secondary windings whereby to provide high leakage reactance in said first secondary winding during ignition and starting, the windings connected end to end with the first secondary winding electrically between the other two and forming a first junction with the primary winding and a second junction with the second secondary winding and providing thereby a primary end terminal and a second secondary end terminal at opposite electrical ends of the resulting grouping of windings, a tap in the primary winding dividing same into two parts, a first part having a first side at the primary end terminal and a second side at the tap, and a second part having a first side at the first junction and a second side at the tap, the entire primary winding being connected across the source, a condenser, one gaseous discharge device being in series with said condenser and connected from said second junction to one of said first and second sides of the second part of the primary winding, and the second gaseous discharge device being connected from said second secondary end terminal to the other of said first and second sides of the second part of the primary winding, whereby insofar as the primary winding is concerned only the voltage developed in the second part will atfect said gaseous dis charge devices, but insofar as the secondary windings are concerned the voltage of the entire primary winding transformed through turn relationships with the secondary windings will affect the gaseous discharge devices, said tap comprising an opening in the primary winding having said second sides both forming inside terminals, the apparatus including a shunting socket having two spaced apart contacts connected respectively to said inside terminals, and the discharge device which has a connection with said second side of said second part has an end terminal bridging the two contacts so that removal of the last mentioned device renders the primary winding discontinuous.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the last mentioned discharge device is said one discharge device having said condenser in series therewith.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which the last mentioned device is said second discharge device having an end connected to said second secondary end terminal.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 3 in which there assign is a .conductor extending'from said first side of-the,.sec: ond 'part tojth'esource, the appa atus including a second shunting socket also havingtwo spaced apartcontacts, the conductor is'openpand the opened endsare connected tov said? last mentioned contacts, and the discharge'device which has a connection with said first side ofsaid second part also has an end terminal bridging ,said last mentioned contacts so that removal thereoffrom between said contacts de-energizes'the primary Winding.

7. 7 Apparatus for igniting and operating ;a pair of gaseous discharge devices from a, source of A.C.,voltage including a transformer having. a primary winding and additional windings, saidprimary winding havinglend termirials connected across said source, said primaryrwinding being electrically open between its end terminals and providing two inside terminals and dividing the primary winding into first and second primary parts, one primary end terminal also being an outside terminal of the first primary part, and the second primary end terminal also being an outside terminal of the second primary part, the

second part being in autotransformer relationship with at least one of said additional windings, a shunting socket having two contacts connected respectively to said inside terminals, a first gaseous discharge device connected at one end to be energized by windings including at least one of said additional windings and having a terminal opposite said one end engaging in said socket and bridging said contacts whereby the primary winding is continuous only when said device is in said shunting socket, said additional windings comprising a first secondary winding having one end terminal connected to one terminal of said second part of said primary winding, and a second secondary winding having one end terminal connected to the second end terminal of said first secondary winding to form a junction, the first gaseous discharge device being connected in series with a condenser and having said one end thereof connected to said junction, and a second gaseous discharge device connected from the second end terminal of said second secondary winding to the outside terminal of said second part of said primary winding, whereby only said second primary part is included in windings of said transformer connected to ignite said gaseous discharge devices.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said one end terminal of said first secondary winding is also connected to the outside terminal of the said second part of said primary winding.

9. Apparatus for igniting and operating a pair of gaseous discharge devices from a source of AC. voltage including a transformer having a primary winding and additional windings comprising first and second secondary windings, the primary winding having two end terminals connected across said source, said primary winding being electrically open between its end terminals and providing two inside terminals and thereby dividing the primary winding into first and second primary parts, one primary end terminal being also an outside terminal of the first primary part, and the second primary end terminal also being an outside terminal of the second primary part, the second part also being in auto-transformer relationship with at least one of said additional windings, a shunting socket having two contacts connected respectively to said inside terminals, the first secondary winding having two end terminals and one being connected to one of said inside and outside terminals of said second primary part, the second secondary winding having two end terminals with the first end terminal thereof connected to the second end terminal of said first secondary winding and iorming a junction therewith, a condenser, one gaseous discharge device being in series therewith and connecting said junction with a terminal of said inside and outside terminals of said second primary part, the second gaseous discharge device being connected from said second terminal of said secondary winding to the opposite of said terminal of said inside and outside terminals of said second primary part, that discharge device which is connected to the inside terminal having its end engaged in the shunting socket, whereby only the second primary part is included in windings of said transformer connected to ignite said gaseous discharge devices. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which there is a second shunting socket between the outside terminal of the second primary part and the source and the gaseous discharge device which is connected thcreat has an end engaged in said second shunting socket. I 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 in which the said one of said inside and outside terminals of said second primary part to which said first secondary winding end terminal is connected comprises the outside terminal.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Osborne Dec. 24, Boucher Apr. 20, Boucher Feb. 7, Salpeter Apr. 11, Feinberg May 23, Peterson May 8, Feinberg June 26, Goddard Dec. 2, Ranney Nov. '10, 

